Skirting for below dwelling



June 24, 1969 F. L. STRUBEN VSKIRTING FOR BELOW DWELLING Filed Dec. 12..1967

I of 2 Sheet INVENTOR June 24, 1969 F. L. STRUBEN SKIRTING FOR BELOWDWELLING Filed Dec. 12, 1967 FRANCIS L. STRUBE/V FY Mam;

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,451,180 SKIRTING FOR BELOW DWELLINGFrancis L. Struben, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Silver Top ManufacturingCompany, Inc., White Marsh, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Dec.12, 1967, Ser. No. 689,852 Int. Cl. E06b 3/54; E04b /52, N34

US. Cl. 52-478 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shutter arrangementis provided which makes use of resilient slats. These slats clip intoslotted angle posts with the latter being heightwise adjustable andspring-biased.

This invention relates generally to building structure, and moreparticularly it pertains to skirting of the shutter type for enclosingthe crawl space beneath dwellings, especially those of trailer housetype.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shutter arrangement whichutilizes formed metal slats and mounting post assemblies of extrudedshape metal.

Another object of this invention is to provide an easily installedskirting which compensates for irregularites between dwelling undersideand base pad throughout the length of installation.

To provide a skirting arrangement which will not rattle and whichrequires no fasteners to install are other objects of this invention.

Still another object of this invention is to provide hidden attachmentpoints for the clapboard-like slats and posts which serve also asbridges for abutting or overlap junction of two lengths of slats.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent and understood from the following detailedspecification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trailer house embodying features ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partly exploded view showing the manner of attachment of aslat to the front face of a post;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a post;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a typical trailer house or dwelling isgenerally designated by letter D. This dwelling D is equipped with askirting installation 10 for the purpose of enclosing a crawl space areaC.

The skirting installation 10 consists of a plurality of post assemblies12 which are installed, as will be related, in spaced relationshipextending from the underside of dwelling D to the ground or a base padB.

The post assembly 12, best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, consists of a postbody 14 of extruded metal having a pair 3,451,180 Patented June 24, 1969of side flanges 18 generally at right angle relationship joined by amedian web 16. The diverging edges of the side flanges 18 are providedwith several opposing pairs of spaced slots 20, 22. The uppermost slot20 of each pair is cut in an upwardly angled direction. The lowermostslot 22 of each pair is cut in a downwardly angled direction.

The converging edges of the side flanges 18 embrace an upper spike 24and a lower spike 30. An end of the upper spike 24 is double pointed asshown. This end can be extended adjustably by means of adjusting slots28 for the fasteners 26 that pass through the web 16 into the spike 24as shown in FIG. 5.

The lower spike 30 which may be singly or doubly pointed has a tab 32best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 and is only slidably retained in the postbody 14. A compression coiled spring 34 bears at the upper end againstan abutting screw 36 passed through one of a plurality of holes in theweb 16. The lower end of spring 34, in contact with the tab 32, appliesa bias when the spike 30 is caused to retract.

This occurs when the posts 12 are installed by pressing them against thebase pad B and allowing them to spring-expand upwardly against theunderside of the dwelling D as shown in FIG. 1.

The slats or skirting members 38 are made of a resilient sheet materialand formed as shown in cross section in FIG. 2 to have an upper flange40 and a lower flange 48 along their lengths. The upper flange 40 isangled upwardly to match the angle of the slot 20 in post 12, the lowerflange 48 is angled downwardly to match the angle of slot 22.

A short web 42 joins the upper flange 40 to the face 44 of the member 38while a longer web 46 similarly joins the lower flange 48 to the face44. This gives the skirting member 38 a generally clapboard appearance.

The members 38 are installed by bowing them transversely so as to causethe flanges 40 and 48 to enter the slots 20 and 22 respectively wherethey engage resiliently on release. The lower web 46 will then overhangto a degree so as to hide the engaging area from view.

Although not illustrated, the ends of two lengths of skirting members 38may be abutted or lapped at a post location by supporting one free endon one flange 1-8 and the other free end on the opposite flange 18 of acommon post 12. Angle stock will provide corner finishing angles 50 asshown in FIG. 1.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings.

What is claimed is:

1. In a self accommodating skirting for buildings and the like, havingintegral fasteners, in assembly including a vertical post, a springbiased downward extension of the post, a multi-slotted flange memberintegral with the post, and horizontal skirt means having edges adaptedfor resilient engagement with plural slots of the said flange, theimprovement comprising, the said flange member comprising a pair ofvertically parallel flanges and a median web joining the said flangestogether at an angle defining converging and diverging flange edges; thesaid slots being formed in the respective edges of the said flanges invertical series alternately upwardly and downwardly tending, and inhorizontal correspondence on the respective diverging flange edges; andthe said skirt means comprising plural members having respectivelyupturned upper edges and downturned lower edges for engagement with theupwardly and downwardly tending slots.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, the said post being intermediate theends of said plural skirt means members, the said slots being invertically spaced relation, and each said skirt member having anintegral projecton below the said downturned lower edge, whereby anengagement with the said slots the said skirt members are positioned inoverlapping vertically spaced relation, the said overlap concealing thepost and edges of the said plural skirt means members engaged therewith.

3. A device as recited in claim 2, and an adjustable upward extension ofthe post including a double pointed plate adjustably fastened to thepost by means fixed in vertically slotted relation to the median web.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 494,710 4/1893 Carver 52--7322,607,089 8/1952 Clark et a1. 52473 2,859,494 11/1958 Hull 52222 X3,113,357 12/1963 Reukauf et a1. 52-155 X 3,256,655 6/1966 Teeter 52155X 3,343,326 9/1967 Sickler et al 52155 X ALFRED C. PERHAM, PrimaryExaminer.

U.S. C1. X.R.

